Windward (2020) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Windward is a board game released in 2020, designed by Justin Spice and published by an unknown publisher. The game falls under the categories of Adventure, Aviation/Flight, Dice, Miniatures, and Nautical, offering players a unique blend of themes and mechanics.

Game Components of Windward

Game Board: A grand, gas planet with a central spaceport and various sailing routes.

Ship Models: Miniatures representing the players’ vessels.

Crew Members: Tokens for the first and second mates, and other specialists.

Supplies: Tokens for fuel, rum, and other resources.

Leviathan Tokens: Representing the formidable creatures players must hunt.

Achievement Cards: For additional challenges and rewards.

Dice: Used for various game mechanics.

Wind Tokens: To track the ever-changing wind directions.

How To Setup Windward

Setting up Windward involves preparing the game board with the central spaceport, distributing the ship models, crew members, and supplies among the players. Each player chooses a ship and starts at the spaceport. The wind tokens are placed according to the initial wind direction, and achievement cards are optionally added for extra challenges.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Harness the Wind: Ships can only sail in the direction of the wind, requiring strategic navigation.

Crew Management: Manage crew morale, storage space, and supply reserves to optimize ship performance.

Resource Gathering: Hunt leviathans to harvest resources and gain notoriety.

Ship Upgrades: Build and upgrade the ship’s engine and hire specialists.

Competitive/Cooperative Play: Players can work together or compete to become the most notorious captain.

Achievements: Work towards additional challenges and rewards.

Final Objective: Accumulate the most victory points by cashing in resources, completing achievements, and outmaneuvering opponents.

Player Experience

Playing Windward is an engaging and dynamic experience, combining strategy and resource management. Each turn offers multiple options, allowing players to break up their actions and adapt to the changing wind conditions. The game’s organic flow and varied challenges keep players on their toes, whether they are hunting leviathans, managing crew morale, or optimizing their ship’s performance.

Pros

Dynamic Gameplay: Ever-changing wind conditions and multiple action options ensure no two games are the same.

Strategic Depth: Requires careful planning and resource management.

Thematic Integration: Successfully blends age of sail and sci-fi elements.

Variety: Supports both competitive and cooperative play styles.

Achievements and Additional Challenges: Adds replayability and extra goals to work towards.

Cons

Complexity: Can be overwhelming for new players due to the numerous mechanics and strategies.

Setup Time: Setting up the game can take some time, especially with all the components and tokens.

Luck Element: The wind and dice rolls can introduce a significant luck factor.

Personal Thoughts on Windward

Windward is ideal for players who enjoy strategy games with a strong thematic presence. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate games that combine resource management, crew optimization, and competitive or cooperative play. While it may have a learning curve due to its complexity, the game offers a rich and rewarding experience that makes it well worth the investment of time and effort. If you’re a fan of sci-fi, sailing, or just looking for a game that offers a unique blend of mechanics, Windward is definitely worth exploring.

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